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Lion populations to halve in most of Africa in next 20 years

IS THE lion king being dethroned? Almost all large populations in West and Central Africa are declining, and may halve within 20 years. The situation is similar in East Africa.

But there is a glimmer of hope&colon; lion populations in southern Africa are stable or increasing. This means it might be possible to reverse the overall downward trend, says Hans Bauer of the University of Oxford’s Wildlife Conservation Research Unit.

Bauer and his colleagues analysed existing information on populations across Africa, identifying declines in much of the continent. They then used this to model future trends (PNAS, doi.org/8qr).

Estimates suggest there are about 20,000 lions left in the wild – down from more than 200,000 a century ago. The main reasons for the decline are habitat loss, the depletion of prey through hunting, and conflict with people who perceive lions as a threat to their livestock, says Bauer.

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But in Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe, where most lions live in fenced reserves that are heavily managed, lion populations have been growing.

Bauer believes that such artificial management should be combined with more traditional conservation efforts to ensure lion survival in a more natural environment.

“We know what we need to do to save the lions,” Bauer says, but there is a lack of resources and political will. “What we need is implementation.”

(Image&colon; Chris Johns/National Geographic Creative)

This article appeared in print under the headline “Lion king’s Africa rule in jeopardy”